Understanding your mental health journey
Everyone’s mental health care journey is different, and at different times you may experience changes in:
- how urgently you require care
- the kind of care you need
- who can best provide that care.
The following information outlines the different services which may provide you with care during this journey.
Each person’s recovery journey is unique and often not a straight line. The pace of recovery may vary, and setbacks can happen. At times, a few backward steps are part of the recovery journey and it is important to get appropriate help to identify and manage any setbacks.
- your general practitioner (GP)
- mental health support services
- mental health services across Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group (FSFHG) for youth, adults (18–65 years) and older adults (65 years and over), including:
- emergency department care
- inpatient care either at home or the hospital
- community-based treatment teams and outpatient care.
Learn about services available to support you throughout your journey
General practitioners (GPs), also known as family doctors, play a central role in the providing mental health care. You don’t need a referral to talk to your GP about your mental health, but you may need to make a longer appointment. You can choose a GP with a special interest in mental health.
Your GP can work with you to create goals and develop a Mental Health Treatment Plan (external site). These goals may include:
- treatment options, including medication, non-drug therapies, exercise and other activities
- linking you with available support services, including community support, psychologists, social workers and other allied mental health workers
- access to subsidised clinical psychology sessions.
Our GP Liaison Service can also give your GP extra support to provide you the care you need. Your GP can contact the GP Liaison Service by phoning the Fremantle Hospital switchboard on 9431 3333.
If you are experiencing longer term or complex psychological or mental health conditions, your GP may recommend you seek more specialised treatment from a:
- psychiatrist
- mental health nurse
- occupational therapist, social worker, dietitian or psychologist
- counsellor or other trained mental health professional.
Your GP will refer you to the most appropriate service.
These services include, but are not limited to:
- Headspace (external site)
www.headspace.org.au - RUAH Community Services (external site)
www.ruah.org.au - Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia (MIFWA) (external site)
www.mifwa.org.au - Helping minds (external site)
helpingminds.org.au - Richmond Wellbeing (external site)
www.rw.org.au - Neami (external site)
www.neaminational.org.au/find-services/neami-perth
The following is an overview of the many mental health care services we deliver.
The location you live in and the mental health issues you have will determine if our mental health service is the right service for you. Our various mental health service webpages clearly identify the catchment zones for each service.
If you need urgent care
Triage
Our Assessment and Treatment Team (ATT), also known as 'Triage', is located at Fremantle Hospital for mental health referrals for patients 18 years and over. For patients who self-present an initial screening assessment will be completed where appropriate and based on this assessment further care planned.
If your initial assessment indicates you need specialist mental health services, we will arrange a time for further assessment and treatment based on your level of need and clinical urgency.
Read how to access this service.
Emergency department care
A 24/7 Mental Health Team is available within the Fiona Stanley Hospital Emergency Department (ED) for consumers attending with mental health issues and who need specialised mental health care.
Wait times to receive emergency department (ED) care can vary in a busy emergency department and we will try our best to support you.
Once you have been assessed by the ED team, you may be referred for further care:
- from your GP
- through Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group:
- as an inpatient
- via a home treatment team
- via a community treatment team
- via a community-based residential support service
- as an outpatient
- from another WA Health hospital if you live outside our catchment area.
Inpatient care
Inpatients are cared for by a consultant psychiatrist (specialist mental health doctor) who is a part of a broader team including doctors, nurses, and a range of allied health staff.
Within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital you will be reviewed by a doctor. Your team will also identify your needs and goals and work towards supporting these so you can be ready for discharge. Your treatment may involve a combination of medication, group programs and supportive counselling.
Inpatient services include:
- a Youth Unit for young people aged between 16 and 24 years
- a Mother and Baby Unit treating women experiencing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or psychosis in late pregnancy and during the postnatal period
- short-term inpatient treatment for adults (18 – 65 years) and older adult (65 years and older) during an acute phase of mental illness. You can read more about how we deliver inpatient adult mental health care and what to expect during your stay.
Home treatment teams
These teams provide mental health care daily in your home or usual place of residence as an alternative to hospital-based care. Intensive mental health care including assessment, treatment and management is provided 7 days a week. You can expect to be with a home treatment team for between 3 and 14 days.
Our services include:
- Youth Hospital in the Home (Y-HiTH) for young people aged 16 – 24
- the Adult Home Treatment Team (HTT) for adults aged 18–65 years
- Older Adult Home Treatment Team (OAHTT).
Community treatment teams
Different community treatment teams support consumers based on their age and residential address. Consumers have access to a range of group therapy sessions and programs designed to address mental health concerns. Your treating team will allocate you a care coordinator if they feel you will likely benefit from ongoing support.
You can be referred to an adult community treatment team through ATT (see above).
Adult services include:
- Adult Community Treatment Teams, including:
- three teams based in Cockburn, Fremantle and Melville
- an Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) Service
- the Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT)
- Fremantle Older Adult Community Mental Health Service (FOAMHS) which provides psychiatric assessment and treatment for older adults (65 years and older) experiencing a mental health disorder. Referrals are direct to FOAMHS.
Youth services include:
- Youth Community Assessment and Treatment Team (YCATT) which provides a time limited, person-centred recovery-focused approach to youth aged 16-24 years. Contact number is 6152 7999.
- YouthReach South, which provides counselling, therapy and care coordination to young people aged 13 to 24 years who experience barriers to accessing mainstream services
Community-based residential support
Hampton House provides a step-up/step-down service for adults experiencing significant functional deterioration as a result of their mental health.
Outpatient care
Our Addiction Prevention and Treatment Service Outpatient Clinic provides consultation, assessment and care for patients with emerging or dependent alcohol and other drug (AOD), behavioural harm and/or addiction.
Supporting mental health carers
Across our mental health services at Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, we know that caring for someone with mental illness can be challenging and rewarding.
We acknowledge the enormous contributions you are making to their wellbeing and recognise actively partnering with you helps ensure the best possible care is delivered.
Read more about support for mental health carers.
In an emergency
In an emergency or crisis please dial 000 (triple zero) or visit your nearest emergency department (Healthy WA).
Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL)
Metro callers phone 1300 555 788 (local call)
Peel callers phone 1800 676 822 (free call)
Lifeline WA
131 114
24 hours a day / 7 day a week service
Find more mental health emergency service providers (Healthy WA).
